How Social Media Became the Voice of Boston (PHOTOS)

Instagram and Twitter became central to locals, many of whom remain locked inside their homes.

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#Boston

As of this morning, April 19, law enforcement have been scouring the streets, while locals spent most of their day on lockdown. But that didn't stop them from using social media to document their experiences, many of which were caught in these haunting images.

Channels like Instagram and Twitter remain critical avenues of storytelling and reporting, ones that city residents are relying upon to illustrate their personal experiences as witnesses to the unfolding of a tragic drama.

Not only are events like the Boston explosions a hallmark of modern times, but so is the way that we communicate about them. Just a decade ago, staying in touch was done over landlines, and the only people reporting stories were journalists. Social media, for better or worse, gives us all a voice, allowing everyone to participate in the creation our collective narrative.

Photo: Twitter

‘Feels like it’s straight out of a movie’

Photo: Instagram

#thearmyishere

The firepower that filled Watertown streets was striking, as evidenced by photos like this one.

Photo: Staticgram

#Watertown

The caption to this photo reads, "There's some indication that the suspect police are dealing with is not 'suspect 2.'" It's indicative of the flurry of contradictory reports coming out of the area.

Photo: Staticgram

#Lockdown

This photo from Watertown has been making the rounds through multiple social media channels, including Instagram and Twitter. Numerous area residents are posting it, affirming it was characteristic of what was unfolding outside of their homes this morning.

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TakePart is the digital news and lifestyle magazine from Participant Media, the company behind such acclaimed documentaries as CITIZENFOUR, An Inconvenient Truth, and Food, Inc. and feature films including Lincoln and Spotlight.